Teen Pregnancy

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Transcript of Teen Pregnancy

Teen Pregnancy By: Colleen, Paige, Rachel and ShannonStatistics and Effects on Society Options for Teen MomsTeens who find out they are pregnant have options to provide the best life for their child. Preventing Teen Pregnancy

Physical, Social, and Mental EffectsKeeping the babyMany teens decide that the best option for themselves and the baby is to continue with the pregnancy and raise the baby. When deciding whether or not to keep the baby, it is important to consider cost, education, help from others, etc. AdoptionAdoption doesn’t mean that a parent isn’t trying to support their child, but rather it displays responsibility and awareness of what is best for the child.A recent study in New Zealand found that children who were adopted into two-parent homes had a wider range of childhood experiences and educational opportunities, better health care, a higher standard of living, a more stable family life, fewer physical and emotional problems, and better interaction with their mothers than children who were raised by only one parent. AbortionAbortion is a very sensitive topic for many people. It is an emotional experience that takes a lot of deliberation.6% of women in the US have an abortion by the time they turn 18.

Mental EffectsTeenagers are rarely prepared to be parents, so pregnancy can bring on depression, anxiety, resentment, and fear of failure. The social stigma surrounding teen pregnancy can create feelings of shame, guilt, or anger. The self-esteem of young mothers generally becomes very low, leading to withdrawal from society. Teen moms are also much more likely to drop out of high school.Social EffectsTeen pregnancy often goes hand-in-hand with poverty and single parenthood. A 1990 study showed that almost one-half of all teenage mothers and over three-quarters of unmarried teen mothers began receiving welfare within five years of the birth of their first child. Teen pregnancy is currently the biggest contributor to the number of single parents in America. They are also often ostracized by their peers.Physical EffectsThere are serious health risks for adolescents who have babies. Young mothers especially those under fifteen, are 2.5 times more likely to die in childbirth than mothers aged 20-24. Common medical problems among young teen mothers include weight gain, pregnancy-induced hypertension, anemia, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and cephalopelvic disproportion. Later in life, adolescent mothers tend to be at greater risk for obesity and hypertension.Remember...Don't be silly, wrap your willy!Wrap it before you tap it!If you really love her, wear a cover!No glove, no loveSTDs are no joke, shield before you poke!Cage that snake then shake and bake!Word of Advice from Coach CarrThe Secret Life of the American Teenager16 and PregnantGleePregnancy in the MediaTeen pregnancy is more and more frequent in the media today, but most teens who watch shows with frequent teen sex are actually less likely to get pregnant. &9% of teen girls and 67% of teen boys argree that watching a character that is pregnant makes them think about their own risks and safety on the issue. It also helps reduce the stigma that goes along with teen pregnancy that can be very damaging to teen mothers.

Birth Control PillsGood:Prevents unplanned pregnancyCan help get rid of acneCan help your hair and nails grow fasterMakes female's menstrual cycles lighter or even disappearProtects against some cancersBad:May cause random mood swingsCould cause weight gainHeadachesDecreased sex drive Breast tendernessDoes not protect against STD'sCondomsGood:Protects against sexually transmitted diseasesShows maturityInexpensiveEasy to find at a convenience store Proven lower rate of cervical cancerIt's good for all couples and types of sexual intercourseNo hormonal side-effectsBad:Needs to be kept cold before the expiration date Can break and then you are at risk for pregnancyLatex condoms may cause itching for some peopleAbstinence Good:The only form of pregnancy prevention that is 100% effectiveAvoid the risk of a sexually transmitted diseaseLess likely to experience an abusive relationship, drop out of high school, engage in doing drugs, or feel pressured to have sexmeans that when you are in a relationship, the partner is not purely in it for the sexA teen who chooses to wait to have sexual intercourse is less likely to look to a relationship for validation and might have greater self-esteemCosts nothing and there are no side-effectsBad:Only works if the teen/person sticks to their beliefsTeens who break their vow to practice abstinence are much less likely to use contraceptives than those who do not pledge at all.If you do decide to be sexually active, here are some ways to prevent an unplanned pregnancyEducation Factsteen moms who dropout of high school have a 1% chance of getting a jobMothers who wait until they are 30 to have a child tend to have 2 more years of education than those who dont. They are also 10-12% more likely to graduate high school and 14-29% more likely to attend collegeColorado is ranked 23rd for teen pregnancies but 19th for abortionsless than 2% of moms earn college degreesless than 50% of moms graduate high school

Disadvantages of Children Born to Teen Moms:

50% more likely to repeat a grade2 times more likely to drop out of high schoolmore likely to end up in jaila child born to an umarried high school dropout is 10 times more likely to live in poverty8 out of 10 fathers don't marry the mother of their childchildren who live apart from fathers are 5 times more likely to be poor than those who live with both parentsPregnancy Facts2006 babies born to 15-17 year olds (per 1000 births) -African-Americans: 36 -Hispanics: 48 -Whites: 12Per 1 million teen pregnancies each year, the US alone has...400,000 abortions500,000 births, 55% to unmarried mothers6% of women in the US have an abortion by the time they turn 1878% of teen pregnancies are unplanned17% of teen moms have another child within 3 yearsWorks CitedBasch, Charles E. "Teen Pregnancy And The Achievement Gap Among Urban Minority Youth." Journal Of School Health 81.10 (2011): 614-618. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. “Other U.S. News: Teen Pregnancy Studied; Other Developments.” Facts On File. World News Digest. Infobase Learning, 30 May 1986. Web. 5 Sep. 2013. <http://wnd.infobaselearning.com/recordurl.aspx?wid=95214&nid=170249&umbtype=0>.

Question: What are the most common reasons teens choose to have sex, even when it is clear that they are not ready for it?

What we see a lot of is teenagers with a lack of self-esteem, and a lot of uneducated teens think that becoming sexually active will raise their confidence. Its also a common trend that the young girl or guy just wants to fit in with everyone else when the reality is that if everyone feels that way, everyone is being tricked by peer pressure. Teenagers try to legitimize, deepen, or save their relationships with sex. We always try to tell teens that no matter what choice they make, it’s a safe one and they are sure about their decisions.

Question: What is your advice to couples that choose to have sex, even risking pregnancy?

The best way to avoid getting pregnant is to choose abstinence, but that isn’t everyone’s choice. Making sure to use a birth control is the next best thing. Obviously there are (places) that make birth control accessible to young people. Most forms of birth control that we offer are around $30 a month, as compared to the average $110 a month. We also provide condoms as another alternative form of birth control.

Question: What are some long-term effects for becoming a teen parent?

The first thing that comes to my mind is the cost of raising a baby. Most teens don’t think about the price of diapers, milk, clothes, and daycare when they decide to have sex or have a child. Most of these girls are not mentally prepared to have someone completely dependent on them, many suffer from depression and anxiety. There are also social effects. When your main focus becomes your child, relationships with others deteriorate. Teens can’t enjoy their years in high school. You may want to spend their Friday nights with friends but your life isn’t in your control anymore, it revolves around the baby